7 Best Business Credit Cards for Startups

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There are lots of business credit cards, but few that are specifically structured to benefit startups. We compared business credit cards to identify the seven best business credit cards for startups. These cards are easier to qualify for, have lower APRs, and higher rewards that are designed specifically to benefit new and growing companies.

Startups that want to build business credit by using a charge card to earn rewards without the fear of carrying a balance.

How We Evaluated the Best Business Credit Cards for Startups

Startups and other early-stage businesses have specific needs that require startup business credit cards. Business credit cards for startups allow business owners to rely on their personal credit to open an account while having a card that will benefit their business. Most of these cards have little or no annual fee and may also have an introductory 0% APR period or rewards for using the card.

To determine the best business credit cards for startups, we looked at a number of factors, including:

Rewards – The points or cash back that you can earn by using your business credit card

Costs – What fees or penalties are charged by a card

Qualification Requirements – How easy it is to qualify for a card

One rule of thumb is that anyone with a personal credit score above 660 will qualify for most of these cards. However, we’ve also included a few options available to startup business owners with poorer credit. When shopping for a business credit card for your startup, it’s important to weigh costs and rewards as well as choose a card you can qualify for and that will help you make the best use of your credit.

After considering different credit cards, we rank the Chase Ink Business CashSM as our best overall credit card for startup businesses. The Chase Ink Business CashSM Card offers 2% – 5% cash back rewards and a $500 cash back bonus without any annual fee. If you’re thinking about a credit card for your startup business, we would suggest that you consider the Chase Ink Business CashSM.

The Chase Ink Business CashSM card is our best startup credit card because it provides the most value to startups. The card has no annual fee, offers $500 cash back, and provides 1% – 5% cash back on regular business expenses. The card is best for startups with office or travel-related expenses, and the benefits also make it one of the best small business credit cards.

Chase Ink Business CashSM Rewards

This card from Chase gives business owners a way to earn great ongoing cash back rewards on office expenses, including cell phones and internet, restaurant- and gas-related expenses, and any other general business costs. It also comes with a great introductory offer that helps business owners pay for expenses they’re probably already paying.

Introductory Rewards

$500 cash back if you spend $3,000 within your first three months

Ongoing Rewards

You can earn the following cash back rewards using your card:

5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent on office expenses (including cell phones, landlines, and cable and internet)

2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent on restaurant and gas-related purchases

1% cash back on all other purchases

Chase Ink Business CashSM Costs

The 12-month introductory 0% APR offered by Chase is incredibly valuable for startups. This year-long, 0% interest period provides new businesses with access to capital to cover startup costs and float capital expenses, with upfront expenses not needed to be paid off for 12 months.

What’s Missing with Chase Ink Business CashSM

The Chase Ink Business CashSM card provides some great cash back rewards, but the spending categories to earn cash back are not flexible. There are no extra rewards for travel expenses, and the 2% – 5% cash back rewards are capped at $25,000 per year in spending.

Where to Get the Chase Ink Business CashSM Card

You can apply for the Chase Ink Business CashSM online. The application process is quick and you’ll typically receive an answer in the mail within three to five days. The card itself typically arrives in seven to ten business days after approval. For more information on the application process and your potential rates, visit Chase today.

The Capital One Spark Miles credit card for startup businesses offers its rewards points in the form of airline miles. This card offers some of the best reward miles per dollar spent and reward points that are specific to airline travel, making it a great credit card for startups that require frequent air travel.

Capital One Spark Miles Rewards

The rewards program is straightforward because all purchases earn 2x miles, which can be redeemed for airline tickets through the Capital One rewards portal. For every dollar spent on the card, you’ll receive 2x airline miles that are redeemable on the Capital One website for airline-related purchases. You can also redeem these miles at hotels, restaurants, and more.

Introductory Rewards

50,000 additional miles if you spend $4,500 in the first three months

Ongoing Rewards

You’ll earn the following rewards as you use the card:

2x airline miles per dollar spent

Emergency roadside assistance

Travel insurance

Capital One Spark Miles Costs

What’s Missing with Capital One Spark Miles

While the Capital One Spark Miles card offers great travel rewards, there is an annual fee and no way to get cash back. Points have to be redeemed through the Chase portal on eligible items like airfare, hotels, and restaurants.

Where to Get the Capital One Spark Miles Card

The Capital One Spark Miles card for startup businesses can be found on the Capital One website. Like the other cards on this list, the approval process typically takes under 60 seconds and cards are received within seven to ten days after approval. Rates start as low as 18.49%. Visit Capital One today to see if you qualify.

The American Express SimplyCash Plus card is a flexible card that offers a flexible cash back rewards program. Like the Chase card, the Amex SimplyCash Plus card offers cash back rewards between 1% and 5%. However, unlike Chase, you can choose your own 3% cash back spending category. This makes the card perfect for startups that want cash back flexibility.

American Express SimplyCash Rewards

This AmEx has a great introductory offer as well as generous ongoing cash back rewards. One of the best things about the ongoing cash back rewards is that you get to choose what category of expenses will earn you 3% cash back.

Introductory Rewards

$250 in statement credit if you spend $5,000 in the first six months

An additional $250 in statement credit if you spend $10,000 in the first 12 months

Ongoing Rewards

The cash back rewards you should expect on the Amex card include the following:

American Express SimplyCash Plus Costs

What’s Missing with American Express SimplyCash Plus

The American Express SimplyCash Plus card has annual caps of $50,000 on both its 5% cash back and 3% cash back spending categories. After the cap is hit in a specific category, all future purchases receive 1% cash back until the new year begins. Cash back can only be redeemed in the form of a statement credit between 30 and 60 days after a bill is paid.

Where to Get the American Express SimplyCash Plus Card

You can apply for the American Express SimplyCash Plus card directly on the American Express website. The time to qualification and approval typically takes under 30 seconds and cards are received within seven to ten business days. Visit their website to see if you qualify; rates start as low as 13.74%.

The Capital One Spark Classic credit card one of the best business credit cards for startups whose owners aren’t prime borrowers. In fact, you’ll typically only need a credit score of 625+ to qualify. While this card is easier to get, the benefits and rewards are slightly lower.

Capital One Spark Classic Rewards

The Capital One Spark Classic card offers a simple cash back rewards program. For each dollar spent on the card, you’ll receive 1% cash back. The cash back can be issued as cash, check, or a statement credit. This gives you the chance to earn small rewards while you build your personal and business credit.

Capital One Spark Classic Costs

What’s Missing with Capital One Spark Classic

This is one of the best business credit cards for startups with poor credit, so the interest rates are relatively high. There is also no introductory offer and cash back rewards are minimal.

Where to Get the Capital One Spark Classic Card

Like the other Capital One card on this list, you can get the Capital One Spark Classic card for startup businesses on the Capital One website. The application takes minutes and you can get approved instantly. Once approved, the card typically takes seven to ten business days to arrive.

The American Express Blue Business Plus card is a small business credit card that offers a 15-month, 0% introductory APR period – one of the longest periods available. In addition to the introductory APR, the card offers ongoing rewards of 1x – 2x points per dollar spent. It is a great option for startup business owners who need to cover short-term expenses or transfer a current balance and not pay it off in full for 12 – 18 months.

American Express Blue Business Plus Rewards

In addition to the 0% introductory period, this card also offers ongoing rewards points. The American Express Blue Business Plus card gives its cardholders 2x rewards points for each dollar spent the first year, up to $50,000. After the $50,000 threshold is met, the rewards rate drops to 1x per dollar spent. There is no introductory reward points offer.

Introductory Rewards

This card does not offer an introductory reward aside from the 15-month, 0% introductory APR.

What’s Missing with American Express Blue Business Plus

While this card offers a 15-month introductory period with 0% interest, it does not have an additional introductory offer. The ongoing rewards are also lower than some other cards on this list.

Where to Get the American Express Blue 0% Business Credit Card

The American Express Blue Business Plus credit card can be found directly on the American Express website. You can get approved in seconds and the 15-month introductory APR period starts as soon as you receive your 0% business credit card. Visit their website for more information on how to apply.

The Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® is another card that offers 0% introductory APR for 9 billing cycles on all purchases. The card offers a $200 introductory statement credit and ongoing cash back rewards between 1% and 3%, both of which are easy for any new business owner to earn. There is no introductory period for balance transfers.

Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard®

The Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® offers a $200 introductory statement credit if you spend $500 in the first two months, as well as 1% – 3% cash back on ongoing purchases in certain categories. New cardholders also have 0% introductory APR for the first 9 billing cycles.

Introductory Rewards

$200 introductory statement credit if you spend $500 in the first two months

Where to Get the Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard®

You can apply for the Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® card online through Bank of America’s website. The application only takes about five to ten minutes and you can get a response within 24 hours. Once you’re approved, you should receive your new card in about two weeks.

The American Express Business Gold card is a charge card that startups can use to build credit over time. Business owners can also earn between 1x and 3x points, redeemable for travel, gift cards, and more. You can choose which spending categories garner the most points. However, this is a charge card and must be paid in full each month while you build business credit.

American Express Business Gold Rewards

The American Express Business Gold card is a charge card that doesn’t have an introductory reward. However, the card does offer 1% – 3% cash back on certain categories, and you get to choose which categories will earn 2% – 3%.

Introductory Rewards

This card does not have an introductory reward, which is unfortunate because the first 12 months are typically when startups need the most help financially.

Ongoing Rewards

The American Express Business Gold card has one of the best rewards point structures when compared to other startup business cards. American Express has five eligible spending categories and lets you choose one that will receive 3x points. The other four categories receive 2x points and all other purchases earn 1x points. The possible categories are as follows:

American Express Business Gold Costs

What’s Missing with American Express Business Gold

This card is a charge card that you have to pay in full each month while you build your credit (you can check your credit score here for free). If you fail to pay your balance in full each month, you may be charged a penalty APR of nearly 30%.

Where to Get the American Express Business Gold Card

Like the SimplyCash Plus card, you can apply for the American Express Business Gold card directly on their website. Also like the SimplyCash Plus card, the time to approval typically takes 30 seconds and you can receive your card within seven to ten business days. Head over to American Express to see if you qualify.

2x ongoing rewards points on travel, $95 annual fee after the first year

Bottom Line

Overall, most business either can or do use a small business credit card. However, when it comes to startup companies and other early-stage businesses, there are specific types of cards that are best. These best credit cards for startup businesses have lower APR rates, advantageous rewards offers, and easier qualification requirements.

The Chase Ink Business CashSM card is our preferred business startup credit card. This card offers $500 introductory cash back with $3,000 spent in the first three months as well as ongoing cash back rewards between 1% and 5%, depending on the spending category. Rates start as low as 14.99% and you can get approved in less than 24 hours.

About the Author

Dock David Treece

Dock's professional background is deeply rooted in the securities and investment advisory industry. As a former registered investment advisory rep and former registered securities rep, Dock assisted clients with critical personal financial planning and decision-making. As an experienced columnist, he has provided engaging and actionable commentary on financial markets and economic developments. While serving on the Finra Small Firm Advisory Board, he assisted industry regulators in understanding the state of the industry and regulatory initiatives.

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